TV talent show The Voice of Holland will return to the schedules next year, after being cancelled three years ago amid revelations of sexual abuse.
Extra measures will be taken in the new series to protect contestants and avoid a repeat of the scandal that engulfed the RTL programme in 2021, when an online documentary accused three prominent men on the show of inappropriate behaviour.
Rapper and talent coach Ali B. was given a two-year jail sentence last year for rape and sexual assault, while band leader Jeroen Rietbergen and coach Marco Borsato were also investigated, but the cases against them were dropped.
Production company ITV apologised after it was criticised in a report for failing to put adequate safeguards in place to prevent harassment or to respond quickly to complaints.
Rietbergen stepped down from the show after he admitted he had been warned about his behaviour several years before the scandal broke. He said he had had “sexual contact” with women who were involved in the show.
The revelations temporarily cost him his relationship with Linda de Mol, whose brother, John de Mol, owned Talpa, the TV company that devised The Voice and used to produce it.
Personal assistants
Contestants on the new show will be accompanied by personal assistants at all times, including interviews and rehearsals. They will not be left alone in a room with coaches or staff at any time, and liaison staff are being hired so that contestants can discuss any concerns they have confidentially.
All contact with programme staff will be conducted through a dedicated app and the messages will be stored, to prevent unwanted private communications.
The show will be presented as before by Chantal Janzen, but her co-presenter Martijn Krabbé is not returning because he has terminal lung cancer. His place will be taken by comedian Edson de Graça.
The Voice Kids, the junior version of the show, is also due to return, but a date has not yet been set.
Programme director Peter van der Vorst said he was pleased that the show was returning. “Together with the producer, ITV, we have put in a lot of work so that we can bring back The Voice safely.
“We have worked intensely not only on the quality of the content, but also on the quality of our procedures.”
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